The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-09

| sAry, and while Il Avee the aaadienoo don
the crude and often painful oratoricel q.
tempts Of youths, Il relieves the membesv ol
the class ffom the nervous worry and tedious
| preparation for an effort which destroyv the
solid comfort Of the last days Of COLLEGE lifs.
The Collegiate Sorosis Of the University Of
Michigan approves the plan Of commence.
ment address by distinguished individual,
invited for the occasion. The influence Of
the address IL likely to be permanent and
valuable alike to students, alumni and visit
ors.
Charles M. Gsyley, assistant professor Of
Latin in the University.o of Mathematician
the method adopted by the University of
Michigan forts scommencements-hav an
address BY man Of scholarly eminence-is
decidedly preferable to the old-time COM
mencement. It Is more instructive and more
dignifed, less trouble and more satisfactory
to both students and professors. Above ali,
II avoids that invidiousness of choosing
few speakers from large class, which is en-
tirely non-democratic and inconsistent with
the principles of the university.
Professors Hudson, Adams and Rogers all
express q decided preference for the COM
mencement address by eminent men rather
than the speeches from members of the class.
In fact, there il remarkable unanimity of
opinion on the subject here, professors and
students believing the plan pursued at the
University Of Michigan in regard to COM
mencement exercises is beyond comparison
superior to the usual custom of colleges in
this particular.
The University of Michigan .inaugurated
the new plan for its commencements in 1873.
Hon. g. v. N. Lathrop, then the leading
lawyer of Michigan, and at present United
States minister to Russia, was invited to give
the commencement address that year, and
his scholarly address has been followed each
year since then by equally able ones of men
eminent in various fields of learning and of
action.
Mr.. F. G. Hicks, class of 'se, University
of Michigan, and now principal of the La
Porte (Ind.) High School, thinks the single
commencement address decidedly the most
desirable form-less trouble for the seniors,
who would otherwise If elected as COM
mencement speakers, have to spend the last
weeks Of the college year practicing their ora
tions in the woods; more attractive also
for visitors, as well as for the members of the
college. The method is being adopted in the
high schools of Michigan.
The wife of Professor Bragdon, of Auburn
dale CLasen Seminary, writes IN his absence:
"Our girls read no essays at commence
ments, and do not dress, think, in the bad,
competitive sense of that term. Their dress
is often white, because it is summer, but It is
not uniformly or necessarily SO; and It Is al
ways simple, frequently of their own cutting
and making. Our commencement is really
only a social gathering of parents and pupils,
with q chapel meeting for some last words
Of good counsel from those qualified to
give it, and make 1t memorable"
The work for the works sake, the true
basis Of all good work, is the principle |
which the best teachers are trying to in. |
culcate, and the best pupils recognize, as
containing the highest stimulus-that
which lays the foundation for future
most useful and honorable. There are
plenty of roads to petty public distinc-
tions, plenty Of temptation to the sacri-
fee Of the genuine good to ths spirit of
ambition and display. But the teacher
should, as far as possible, stimulate and
preserve integrity and the true spirit of
emulation in the young and plastic
minds of pupils, for their personal in.
fluence in this direction 10 one of the
most potential forces in the formation of
material for the building up of the future.
JENNY JUNE.